Hi there, I am Sally and I am your resident Therapedia Psychologist. Since working as a Psychologist, I have come across countless resources and tools that have supported both me and my clients. I am typically one to gravitate towards creative and play based interventions, but today I have chosen my top three products that I use most often and will be super helpful to clinicians no matter what stage of their career they are at!
1. Is This Autism? A Guide for Clinicians and Everyone Else by Donna Henderson
This book is amazing! It might seem early to be calling this a staple resource given it was only published this year, but I have already used it and recommended it multiple times – I am confident it is a must have! As someone who works with neurodiverse clients in the therapy and assessment space, I am constantly seeking up to date research and resources to ensure my practice is neurodiverse-affirming and relevant. I purchased this book and the day it arrived I had devoured it, highlighted powerful quotes and relevant insights, added tabs and dog-eared many pages to come back to again and again! This book brings together current research and insights, in addition to the lived experience of autistic people, and thoughtfully describes aspects of autism that aren’t currently included in the diagnostic criteria and increased my depth of understanding immensely.
I would recommend this book to clinicians, family members, autistic individuals – anyone really! Its an incredible resource and my copy is well worn already!
https://shop.therapedia.com.au/products/is-this-autism-a-guide-for-clinicans-and-everyone-else-donna-henderson
2. Safety Plan
I carry a copy of this safety plan with me into every client interaction I have, it’s something I never want to be caught without.
Safety planning is essential in keeping clients safe when they are feeling low or suicidal. I will develop a safety plan with many of my clients, even before crisis strikes. This ensures that the safety plan is well informed and is available to refer should it be needed.
Included in this safety plan are early warning signs, triggers, ways others can support, and a list of 24 hours support services within Australia. This is an editable PDF so it can be easily completed while at your computer or can be printed and completed by hand. We have also added an additional notes section on the back – this can be used to include any other relevant details to the safety plan or including pictures or reminders of things that give the client hope.
https://shop.therapedia.com.au/products/safety-plan
3. Hierarchy of Responding
This resource is more than meets the eye, a very unassuming staple for me and the families/teams I support.
I use this resource to guide my treatment planning and support families to understand goals and expectations during therapy and at home. When working with families or individuals with complex needs, it can sometimes feel really overwhelming and as though nothing is working. This tool is designed to simplify interventions and responses during those times, by matching what expectations are based on the child/young person’s felt sense of safety. This is modelled off Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and built around Ross Greene’s approach of “kids do well if they can”.
This resource helps me when I feel like things aren’t going according to plan, and I regularly share this with parents to ensure that they can match their expectations and responses, ensuring that things get back on track smoothly.
https://shop.therapedia.com.au/products/hierarchy-of-responding